A fun Hour of Code Google Slides activity that introduces students to essential computer science and coding skills while building a digital gingerbread house. Students will explore introductory to intermediate coding concepts as they decode pseudo code (written in a code-like format) and use the algorithms to create their own digital gingerbread house. This activity is a fun and festive way to build problem-solving skills and deepen students’ understanding of how coding works.

The preview above shows a sample of one of the intermediate follow-up activities, but the main activity is similar in what students will be doing.

✅ WHAT YOU'LL GET ✅

The main activity is a 27-page Google Slides presentation with overviews of the topics covered and opportunities to practice the skills. This includes skills such as:

• Sequencing
• Practicing algorithms like sorting, number patterns, and directional coding algorithms
• Decoding simple codes

BONUS activities include differentiation options:

• Building a simple gingerbread house using the components provided (if decoding the pseudo code is too challenging, or just for fun!)
• Decoding and building a simple gingerbread house (The Candy Cabin)
• 3 intermediate decoding activities to build gingerbread houses (The Sweetest Thing, Cookie Cottage, and The Sugar Shack)
• 1 expert level activity for students to write their own pseudo code for a gingerbread house.

✅ TOPICS COVERED ✅

• Coding vs. Programming, including simple examples of several languages
• Sequencing
• Algorithms
• Conditional Statements / Branching
• Loops (for and while loops)
• Morse and Binary Code
• Google Slides skills such as duplicating, copying, pasting, resizing, positioning, recoloring, text formatting, rearranging slides, and slide element animation

✅ TEACHER TOOLS ✅

• Complete Samples for each of the activities are provided
• I have provided an 11+ minute walk-through video of The Sugar Shack activity. If you are new to coding or get stuck, I would start with the video!

❤️ WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING ❤️

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was such a fun activity to lead up to the winter break with the students. They loved doing this, and it is scaffolded well for them to provide a good base (even for those without coding experience)."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a perfect assignment for my recent day off. I just assigned this project on CANVAS for my students and my sub only had to monitor."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Great option for my students who wanted to learn more specifics about coding during our Hour of Code week activities. Thanks!"